Hanger clamp for stranded cables



1,642,707 Sept. 20, A. WICHERT HANGER CLAMP FOR STRANDED CABLES Filed Jan. 27, 1927 Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

ALFRED WICHER'I, OI IANNHEIK-NEUOSTHEIM, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR '10 AK'IIEN- GESELLSCELFT BROWN, BOVEBI & CIE.

QOIPANY.

, OF BADEN, SWITZERLAND, A JOINT-STOCK .HA NGEB CLAMP FOB STRANDED GABLES.

Application Med January 87, 1927, Serial No. 184,058,11111 in Germany February 3, 1926.

This invention relates generally to cable hangers, and pertains particularly to hanger clamps desi ned for the suspension of the contact trolley wire for electrical railway a systems from a catenary cable which is made up of a plurality of component strands.

The general object of the invention 1s the revision of a form of clamp or connecting device which is qualified for use at either the u per or lower end of the hangerwire, that is, for connecting the ban or wire to either the contact wire or to e .catenary cable, and which, when used for the latter connection, will effectively prevent the work- 1 ing out of the component strands of the cable from the jaws of the clamp.

Another object is the revision of such a device which is of simp e and strong construction, which will. form a very secure connection between the hanger wire and the suspension cable, which is easily installed and may be detached with equal facility when desired, and which is not adversely affected with respect to the last mentioned characteristic by rusting or dust deposit. Other and further objects and advantages will be pointed out or indicated hereinafter,

or will appear to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the invention or its employment in practice.

In the accompan ing drawing forming a part of this s eci catlon I show, for purpose of exemp ification, one embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention as defined in the appended claims is not limited to this particu ar construction or to the details thereof.

In said drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the clamp showin it as applied to a stranded suspension ca le Fig. 2 Is an end elevation, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on approximately line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cable constricting member,

The nature of the invention will be most quickly ascertained by reference to the illustrative embodiment shown. In this construction the clam is formed of a air of duplicate jaw mem ers 10 havin their inner surfaces adjacent one end shape to provide concave seat portions 10 for reception of the line, which ma be either the contact wire or the catenary ca 1e. Adjacent their opposite ends the clamp members 10 are formed on their inner faces with theconcave seat 10" for reception'of the spherical surfaced ends of the stud 11. They are also provided with a slot 10 for reception of a wedging key member 12 which has overhangin head port ons 12 that are insertable throug said slot and then rotatable to exercise a camming or wedging action upon the jaw members tending to force them together into clamping engagement with a line positioned in the seat portions 10. The stud 11 forms a means of attachment for the hanger wire, which is looped about the same between the jaw members 10. A clamp of the construction just described is suitable for use either at the upper or lower end of the hanger wire as a means forconnecting it either to the contact wire or the catenary suspension line. There are certain advantages in the use of a uniform type of clamp at both ends of the hanger wire. However, with certain type of suspension cables which are made up of a plurality of strands, there is a possibility of the relatively movable strands being displaced by the c amping pressure of the jaws 10, and individual strands working out of their mutually supporting relationship in such fashion that the cable as a whole does not afford a pro er resistance to the clamping pressure of t e jaws, with the result that the clamp becomes loose and possibly detached from the cable. In order to prevent this, there is provided a cable constricting member 14, which is assembled with the clamp when it is to be attached to a stranded cable of the sort mentioned. This is a resilient metal plate of proper strength which is folded over to form a pair of relatively parallel wing portions 14 connected by sleeve portions 14". The latter are spaced apart at propgr distance to receive the jaw portions 10 tween them. The wing portions are notched at 14 to accommodate the passa e of the wedge key 12, and they are provi ed near, their lower ends with the apertures 14 for accommodation of the stud 11, said apertures being of a size to make a contactin fit with the stud.

When t e clamp is to be applied to a cable, as indicated at O, the cable constricting member 14 is first sprung over the cable so as to confine the latter within the sleeve portions 14". The jaw members 10 are then applied, the stud 11 being inserted through the apertures 14 and the seat portions 10" bein applied to the cable between the sleeve mem ers 14:". The wedge key 12 is the n 1nserted and turned to the securing position. This operation not only clamps the cable between the jaw members but also draws the constricting member 14 into close binding engagement with the cable, which is effective to hold the strands against spreading apart under the clamping pressure of the jaws. The constricting envelopment of the cable by the constricting member is aided by inwardly projecting embossments 10 on the inner sides of the jaw members, which embossments engage the outer faces of the wing portions 14. The, member 14 finds anchorage on the lower ends of the embossments 10 against the vertical pull, and is held against longitudinal displacement from the clamp by its engagement with the stud, 11 and the wed e key 12. Thus the sleeve portions 14 an the cable clamping seat of the jaw members are maintained in proper longitudinal alignment.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. In a line supporting device, the combination of jaw members, means for securing them in clamping engagement with a line, and a constricting member secured between the jaw members and having a sleeve portion for embracing the line.

2. A cable clamp comprising relatively movable jaw members, means for securing them in clamping engagement with a cable,

and a constricting member having a sleeve wing portions clamped between the jaw members to constrict the sleeve portion.

4. A' cable clamp comprising jaw mem bers for engaging a cable, a retaining member for holding the jaw members in clamping engagement with the cable, and a constricting member having asleeve portion for embracing the cable adjacent the jaw members and portions having anchoring engagement with the latter.

5. A cable clamp comprising, jaw 'members for engaging a cable, a retaining member for holding the jaw members in clamping engagement with'the cable, and a constricting member having sleeve portions for embracing the cable at-opposite sides of the jaw members and connecting portions passing between the jaw members and connect- :ing said sleeve portions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subding said the cable adscribed my name at Basel, Switzerland, on

the 11th day of January, A. D. 1927.

ALFRED WICHERT. 

